Category Archives: Solar-Offgrid

February 19, 2017Comments Off on MPs told to contribute for solar electrification of villages

According to reports, all Members of Parliament have been asked to contribute through their MPLADS fund towards providing street lights in rural areas of the country powered by solar energy. A directive in this regard has been issued to members of both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha. The contribution has to be made from MPLADS (MPs’ Local Area Development scheme), it said. The move is in keeping with the government’s emphasis on the maximum use of new and renewable energy which includes ... Read More »

February 15, 2017Comments Off on INS Sarvekshak goes green; instals solar power system

According to reports, Indian Navy’s survey vessel INS Sarvekshak has gone green by installing a solar power system on board. Navy said the system, equipped on the ship, works on sunlight and hence is 100 per cent reliable for power source that can be used for communication equipment, battery charging and general lightings onboard round the clock with battery outputs during night. The system is “maintenance free” whereeas the the diesel generator requires regular maintenance, it said. The estmiated profit ... Read More »

February 5, 2017Comments Off on Powerlooms to get subsidy for shift to solar mode

According to reports, Government has approved a new scheme to provide financial assistance in the form of capital subsidy to small powerloom units for installation of solar photovoltaic (SPV) plants. The scheme aims to alleviate the problem of power cuts faced by the decentralised powerloom units in the country. “The funds requirement for the three years (2017-18, 2018-19 and 2019-2020) would be Rs 19.95 crore covering 480 powerloom units,” Union Textiles Minister Smriti Irani said in a written reply in the ... Read More »

February 1, 2017Comments Off on Solar power to feed 7,000 railway stations says FM Arun Jaitley

According to reports, announcing the Union Budget for the 2017-18, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that around 7,000 railway stations will be fed using solar power and work has already began in 300 stations in that respect. The project is expected to feed at least 7,000 stations with solar power in the medium term. Jaitley also said that regarding this work will be taken up for 2000 stations as part of the government’s 1000 megawatt solar mission. Addressing the House ... Read More »

January 31, 2017Comments Off on Why India’s canals could help fast-forward its ambitious solar energy plans

According to reports, as far as the eye can see, line after line of solar panels stretch out in the midday sun beating down on the village of Chandrasan here in this eastern Gujarat district, which squeezes in 80 more people per sq km than Indias already crowded average of 441. But there is no land conflict involved with the Chandrasan installation because the solar panels unfurl over a 750 m length of irrigation canal. The panels were installed in ... Read More »

According to reports, the Mar Thoma Education Trust, which runs two educational institutions in the city, plans to go solar this summer. The Mar Thoma Public School at Edachira near Kakkanad accommodates 1,500 students and consumes an average of 65kW per month. The trust plans to introduce rooftop panels in the school and the Marthoma School of Management Studies, and have invited quotations for setting up solar panels that can generate up to 100kW. “The solar initiative of the Cochin ... Read More »

January 23, 2017Comments Off on Govt approves Rs 5,000 crore for grid connected solar rooftops up to 2020

According to reports, the New & Renewable Energy sector has witnessed the highest ever-solar power and wind power capacity addition over the last two years since April 2014, and there has been an increase of 157% in solar power capacity addition (4132 MW) during the last two years, according to a government report. The year 2015-16 recorded the highest ever wind power capacity addition of 3300 MW in 2015-16. Also, 34 solar parks of aggregate capacity of 20,000 MW have ... Read More »